Reviews

Not great first impression

Been waiting 3 months for an appointment. I eventually called and was informed that my son had been 'accepted' & would receive an appointment in the post . One month on, still hadn't heard anything, so called again. I was asked to hold on the line. Advisor returned asking if I could come in tomorrow. So from waiting for 3 months, I have now been given 24 hours to find cover for my job which is impossible. I was then informed, if I couldn't come in tomorrow, someone would call me back with an appointment.....we'll see......

They don’t listen

I was referred to the IAPT mental health from my doctor and now my iapt therapist is referring me to the crisis which I find them not helping me at all I’ve confined all my problems to my iapt therapist who I really like I found her understanding me and actually listening to me for me to then be told I got to be transferred to another team I have now been told I’ve got to come in for an assessment but be in a room with another two complete strangers and talk again about my problems which I’m not comfortable with I had asked for it to just be ONE person and it being a female as I feel more comfortable talking about things but the lady over the phone told me it has to be two people and either it being a male and female which I will refuse to go to as I won’t be myself I ain’t getting the help I thought I would and her like I’ve wasted my time and wish I hadn’t spoken on my problems all the doctors do if give me medication and up my dose What more can they do? Nothing.

Disgusting, they don't care at all

My adult daughter has personality disorder. That's what she was diagnosed with a year ago. She has also obvious signs of paronoid schizophrenia. She has been in and out of hospital 4 times this week alone. They don't admit her, they just let her out again. She has been in the psychiatric ward last year, and they can't wait to get rid of her again. They all like to pass the buck until shes passed back to me again!! Again the police have taken her away from my property as she was hiding down an alley, spotted by a neighbour. No one wants to help me. Everyone has abandoned me with help and I'm left to deal with an angry, violent, confused, pycotic 26 year old who believes I'm the devil and needs to die. All I've done is cry for a week straight, and all people say is "I'm sorry this is happening to you" or "let me know if I can help" but when my daughter is here having a pycotic moment, everyone is conveniently out, or their phone is off, or they just can't help!! I feel I'm losing my own mind now. My daughter will be sent home to her own flat, but will end up on my doorstep again. Then the police are called again!!! And so it all begins, round and around!!! When she hurts someone out in the public I know who to blame. They have been warned!!!!!

I am sorry to hear that you have had problems making contact with the services. If there is anything we can do to support you reaching those you need to communicate with please email us your contact details and we will call you back. Email: patient.experience@beh-mht.nhs.uk

Patient for 19 years!

This "service" has got so bad now it's not even funny! I'm so heartbroken by everyone comments but it's so very true! The barnet services keep being changed around yet I'm very lucky I suppose in the fact I have great support from my psychiatrists. I've been admitted several times and each time is worse the "nurses" don't nurse at all it's fend for yourself til meds time! I'm so very disappointed in this mental health care and after 19 years it's gotten worse to the point it's all about drink and drug users now. Well I wish you all the best yet take your concerns to the top then the NHS ombudsman if need be. God bless

Thank you for your comments. It is important for us to hear how the services are being experienced by those that use them as it helps shape the changes going forward. If you would like to share your thoughts with us directly you can contact us via email: patient.experience@beh-mht.nhs.uk

Let down and made to feel stupid

My adult son was unfortunate enough to have to spend almost a week in Trent Ward. He was ill when he went in, and absolutely destroyed mentally and much worse on discharge. I visited him and witnessed the attitude of staff. They have perfected the bored indifferent look with matching flat bored tone of voice. Hint, if you don't like your job, find another one. I am currently trying to find what his care plan is meant to be, and already I've become used to everyone passing the buck. His medication was not suffcient to calm him and his normal painkiller prescription was actually halved. He could not sleep and had no assistance. He cannot eat in same room as others, but his mealtimes were not monitored nor help offered. He did not eat a meal in 6 days and devoured the bananas I brought in on a visit. He didn't have a one to one during his stay, with any head doctor. Only spoke to us on discharge. I will never ever let my loved one go anywhere near this hospital as in in-patient. I am seeking help myself and hope that I don't end up having my own breakdown. Dealing with this trust is unrelenting, and seeing the other reviews make me feel even more saddened. Mental health is recognised now and not hidden, all the publicity recently seems to be a five minute lip service. Where is the help, the guidance, the understanding. Not in Barnet.

Thank you for taking the time to make a comment and I appreciate how difficult this experience must have been for you to feel you need to make comment in this way. It is never our intention to provide anything but quality care and if I can help you address any of the issues you have raised in this post please contact me via the patient experience team either by email patient.experience@beh-mht.nhs.uk or telephone 020 8702 4700.

They haven't got a clue what their doing!!

So far we have received a terrible service all you do is wait in despair.....then finally! when you get a assessment.... because they don't listen!!!! they end up referring you to the wrong service then the waiting starts again. God help you if you really ill....coz they don't..I thought the nhs got all this money for mental health....they really need to employ some experienced mental health professionals not trainee's straight out of uni.

The Worst Medical Care I've Ever Experienced!

I wouldn't take a dog for treatment at this place! I've been struggling since 2014 after a massive overdose that saw me in critical care for two days. Following this it took me over a year to get an appointment despite my GP regularly chhasing.

For the last two years there has been no improvement in my overall mood. The doctor continues to make any changes to my medication and the psychotherapist I wa assigned to has been sick for almost a year so I've had no psychological therapy either. I appreciate that someone is ill but in my field someone has to take up the slack. In fact the work we had previously don't might well not have happened and I guess if I ever get to see someone again we won't be starting from scratch.

The doctor barely listens to me, in fact I get the distinct impression I'm nothing more than nuisance! The doctor clearly doesn't believe me as it seems to be necessary for my partner to attend. There is clearly no trust and I've never had a doctor-patient relationship like it in my whole life. I have had to even ask to finish what I'm saying as the doctor interrupts with such joys as 'what do you want to get out of today'. This is a highly irrelevant as I will be ignored so don't even bother answering me the question. I've made my position clear that my medication isn't working for me but he'll im only the patient so you ignore me and patronise me by telling me we need to wait told the next review in several months which then becomes the next review and then the next. Thankfully my partner has been with me and he is if the same opinion so at least I'm not being delusional.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter because this is the NHS and if you are referred here you are stuck with it. If that isn't dead enough the building is so depressing. There is nothing about this place which would help anyone recover in any way from their mental health problems. After every visit I feel so down and depressed and hopeless with a feeling of no way out.

Avoid at all costs if you can. If you can't then good luck, you'll need it. I'm contemplating seeing my MP and making an official complaint as I'm at my wits end. This is no way to treat anyone especially those desperately needing help for complex or serious mental health problems.

Thank you for your comment and I am sorry that you feel this way about your experience at BEH-MHT. We try hard to understand where we do things well and where we could do it better and would appreciate your contact via the patient experience office if you would like to discuss your experience further or raise any issue as a complaint. The contact details are patient.experience@beh-mht.nhs.uk or alternatively phone 020 8702 4700.

Awful

I have been helping a vulnerable relative to get assessment and have the care organized for her through the trust, There are rules even within this review that are absolutely unsound if you want good medical care and review of that care. Negligence? where do I start? If I can leave a one phrase comment : this service does not treat vulnerable people as such - they don't understand what a mental illness is! (ironic aint'' it?) My cousin was put through challenges she could not meet and thus we need to look elsewhere as I spent more time on the phone and email regarding the problems with the service. I would have used this time better simply talking and taking my relative outside for a breath of fresh air. If you had a good doctor and a good experience give hints how others can have a similar good care. Otherwise, if you are vulnerable, do not risk it. The service is likely to make you and your relatives feel ridiculous !

Thank you for your comment and I am sorry that you feel this way about your experience as a carer at BEH-MHT. We try hard to understand where we do things well and where we could do it better and would appreciate your contact via the patient experience office if you would like to discuss your experience further or raise any issue as a complaint. The contact details are patient.experience@beh-mht.nhs.uk or alternatively phone 020 8702 4700.

Waste of TIME

Low mood panic attacks I begged for help!! Didn't receive any left me instead suicidal.. staff who are unprofessional and condescending. Always loosing paperwork often don't even bother to turn up!! Been waiting over 5months on an URGENT REFERRAL :( Go private if you can afford IT